A city burdened with unplanned overpasses: a grounded theory approach to identify the root cause for its implementation by Fabiha Atique Mubassirah BURP, Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology, 2016 A THESIS submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF REGIONAL AND COMMUNITY PLANNING Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional & Community Planning College of Architecture, Planning and Design KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2019 Approved by: Major Professor Dr. Gregory Newmark Copyright © Fabiha Mubassirah 2019. Abstract The most crucial urban problem in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is its traffic congestion. The absence of adequate transportation planning and lack of proper integration between infrastructure management bodies have resulted in motionless streets in Dhaka, where vehicles remain frozen on roads for hours. The government of Bangladesh is constructing flyovers or overpasses which are full-grade separations in major intersections of Dhaka. Eight flyovers have already been constructed so far to curb the congestion problem, and to eliminate conflicts between rail-road traffic and potential accidents. But, unfortunately, most of them resulted in poor performance and inefficiency in mitigating congestion. These transportation infrastructure projects have not only deteriorated the traffic condition of the city, but they impede the potential for other long-term sustainable options. Flyover construction is an expensive project for a developing country like Bangladesh, and there could have been several alternative reasonable solutions which were overlooked. This situation necessitates digging into the root causes for the selection and implementation of flyover projects in Dhaka. The study aims to identify the reasons why the government of Bangladesh is implementing flyover projects in Dhaka. A grounded theory approach has been followed to inductively derive a theory behind the reason of this flyover scenario. Content analysis and interviews of the stakeholders and policy makers have been done to collect the data. The theory derived in the research provides an explanation for the root cause of the present traffic disaster. The analysis reveals that weak governance of Bangladesh which includes political decision-making and ineffective institutional framework motivated this infrastructure failure in Dhaka. Table of Contents List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. ix Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... x Dedication ...................................................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1 - Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 Background of the Study ........................................................................................................ 1 Statement of Purpose .............................................................................................................. 3 Research Question .................................................................................................................. 4 Definition of Terms ................................................................................................................. 4 Scope of the Study .................................................................................................................. 5 Limitation of the Study ........................................................................................................... 6 Organization of the Thesis ...................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2 - Literature Review ......................................................................................................... 8 History of Flyovers: Blessing or Curse? ................................................................................. 8 Issues with Flyovers as Large Transport Infrastructure ........................................................ 12 Case Studies of Flyovers Re-imagined ................................................................................. 15 Methodological overview of Grounded theory ..................................................................... 19 Key definition of Grounded theory ................................................................................... 19 Case Study 1: A Grounded Theory Study of Project Managers in the Public Works Department of Malaysia (PWDM).................................................................................... 21 Case Study 2: Toward a Grounded Theory of Community Networking .......................... 23 Concept mapping of the research .......................................................................................... 24 Chapter 3 - Transport System and Flyovers in Dhaka: An Overview .......................................... 26 Demographic Profile of Dhaka ............................................................................................. 26 Historic Background ............................................................................................................. 28 Current Transport Scenario in Dhaka ................................................................................... 28 Organization of Transport Sectors ........................................................................................ 31 Challenges in Transport Sector ............................................................................................. 32 Existing Traffic problem in Dhaka ....................................................................................... 33 iv Policies in Transport Sector .................................................................................................. 36 Government Initiatives .......................................................................................................... 38 Flyover Projects in Dhaka ..................................................................................................... 43 Flyover Disputes in Media .................................................................................................... 49 Chapter 4 - Methodology .............................................................................................................. 56 Content Analysis ................................................................................................................... 56 Interviews .............................................................................................................................. 57 Initial Purposive Sampling ................................................................................................ 57 Interview session 1 ............................................................................................................ 57 Interview session 2 ............................................................................................................ 58 Interview session 3 and 4 .................................................................................................. 58 Analysis ................................................................................................................................. 59 Memo-writing ................................................................................................................... 59 Coding and Comparing ..................................................................................................... 60 Theoretical Sampling ........................................................................................................ 61 Theoretical Saturation ....................................................................................................... 61 Production of a Substantive Theory .................................................................................. 62 Chapter 5 - Data Analysis and Findings ....................................................................................... 64 Initial Coding ........................................................................................................................ 64 Focused Coding .................................................................................................................... 65 Concept 1: Top-Down Decision-Making Approach ......................................................... 66 Concept 2: Weak Strategic Transport Plan ....................................................................... 67 Concept 3: Quick and Short-Term Solution ..................................................................... 69 Concept 4: Weak Governance and Regulatory Framework ............................................. 74 Concept 5: Limited Budget and Technology .................................................................... 76 Concept 6: Show-Casing Development of Government ................................................... 78 Substantive Theory ............................................................................................................... 80 Chapter 6 - Recommendation and Conclusion ............................................................................